Community Spirit

​ATLANTA -- Just days before her third birthday, Peyton Greene of Snellville was diagnosed with A.L.L., Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Five months into her treatment at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, Peyton just completed her third round of chemotherapy. Her mother Shannon calls the cancer her little girl is battling, "a dirty, ugly monster." Standing in contrast to the disease, is her precious daughter who she calls her "ray of sunshine."

Last week, when Peyton was hospitalized for her chemotherapy, the nurses gave her a tiara, a boa and a party blower. The video shows that Peyton is all girl and ready to celebrate, even in the middle of battling leukemia.

For the third year in a row, Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation (GCPR) took first place at the annual Georgia Recreation and Park Association State Lifeguarding Competition held on July 21 in Greene County. Six lifeguards from various GCPR aquatic centers earned spots on the team after proving their lifeguard skills and abilities during the tryouts. Virginia Brinkley, Christina Wang, Alex Wang, Brad Miller, Stephen Brinkley and Victor Barr studied lifeguard materials, swam and conditioned throughout the summer to prepare for the competition. There were 13 teams from across the state competing for the title.

The food made its way to children through MUST Ministries, whose summer lunch program has been around for 19 years. Program volunteers meet at churches in Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Forsyth, Gwinnett, north Fulton, Paulding and Pickens counties five days a week to make, pack and deliver lunches to nearly 6,000 children across eight counties for 10 weeks during the summer.

(WXIA) -- Kroger customers in metro Atlanta recently showed that they are a charitable bunch.

During the final two weeks in May, shoppers raised $232,000 for the Children's Miracle Network through the Miracle Balloons promotion.

For only $1, a customer could purchase a paper balloon to hang in a local Kroger. All proceeds from the fundraiser went directly to Children's Miracle Network hospitals and health networks, such as Children's Hospital of Georgia in Augusta and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

"Kroger customers consistently show their care for our communities by constantly going above and beyond with their charitable donations," Glynn Jenkins, spokesperson for Kroger's Atlanta division, said in a release. "Through their support of the Miracle Balloons program, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of children."